Force Russia to enter peace talks, Zelensky urges allies

Ukraine’s leader calls for more pressure on Moscow as its offensive gains new ground

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MADRID - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 27 called on the West to "use all means" to force Russia to enter peace talks during a visit to Spain, which pledged €1 billion (S$1.4 billion) in military aid as a Russian offensive gained new ground.

Russia said it has taken two more villages as part of its assault in eastern Ukraine and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg urged allies to rethink their curbs on using Western arms to strike inside Russia, a key demand of the Ukrainian leader.

"We need to intensify our joint work with our partners to achieve more. Security and tangible coercion of Russia to peace by all means," Mr Zelensky told a joint press conference with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

On the back foot, Ukraine has been pressing its backers - especially the United States - to allow it to use longer-range weapons they supply to hit targets inside Russia.

Washington and other allies have been reluctant to permit Kyiv to strike over the border out of fear that it could drag them closer to direct conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia.